Defecting: Labour councillor Dr Anwara Ali blames Gordon Brown's failure to reform the NHS for her switch to the Tories

A GP has resigned as a Labour councillor and defected to the Tories because she believes only David Cameron will improve the NHS.

Dr Anwara Ali, who has fronted a poster campaign aimed at persuading Bengali-speaking women to sign up for breast screening, said Labour's failure to reform the health service was behind her decision.

The Labour councillor for Tower Hamlets, East London, who is also a GP in Spitalfields, is the borough's cabinet member for health and wellbeing.

'I have been a lifelong Labour supporter, but I believe the country cannot afford five more years of Gordon Brown,' she told the Evening Standard.

'As a GP working on the frontline in the largest practice in the East End, I have become increasingly disillusioned with Labour's failure to reform the NHS.

'The past decade has seen this government waste millions of pounds on bureaucracy in hospitals.

'Gordon Brown's obsessions with top down targets and a tick box culture has ruined the morale and goodwill of the national health staff.'

Dr Ali added: 'I feel I cannot continue to serve the people of Tower Hamlets whilst I am part of a Labour party in the borough that is racked by divisions and splits unable to deliver services to the most needy people.'

Labour hopes to win back Bethnal Green and Bow at the general election, which will see Respect MP George Galloway step aside.

The Tories have also targeted the neighbouring seat of Poplar and Limehouse, which is held by environment minister Jim Fitzpatrick.

Conservative Party chairman Eric Pickles said he was delighted that Dr Ali had joined the party.

He said: 'Week by week, people are deserting the Labour Party in droves, tired of Gordon Brown's half truths, broken promises and recycled slogans.

'The Prime Minister should do everyone a favour and hurry up and call the election.'